Category: MX5

So not much has been happening with this for the last month or so, most of the engine purchases have been going to the US drop box. Mainly been having fun with it and driving it around enjoying being able to take corners again (unlike the Hilux or Kluger).

Did a foamectomy on the seats, which has made a huge difference. Basically you just undo the hog rings and remove foam:

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/i.php?/upload/2018/10/14/20181014183737-637354cf-xl.jpg[/img]

The back piece is basically just tucked in under the fabric, and secured with some hog rings. Remove it and you are good to go. The bottom needs a trimming, but i reckon you could probably not bother with it.
The back is fantastic, and it really changes the seat as you sit back about 50mm further with properish wings on the seats. Great stuff for a free mod.

Managed to pick up some cotton reel engine mounts too:

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/_data/i/upload/2018/10/13/20181013012803-c3e04b99-xl.jpg[/img]

Oh and had good fun trolling the FB groups with this:

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/_data/i/upload/2018/10/13/20181013012831-bc4d2624-xl.jpg[/img]

Starting to get some bearing noise in the rear end, probably a wheel bearing or diff bearing. Luckily both will be replaced soon, hopefully before we move house. Sadly everything else will probably be delayed until we move… which means probable engine build in winter next year rather than summer this year.

Anywho, this arrived in the post today:

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/i.php?/upload/2018/09/11/20180911221505-6eb3d264-xl.jpg[/img]

Cast manifold from a guy who bought it thinking it was for B6. Looks to be the same basic cast thing from eBay/AliExpress, but worth the $100 gamble. Has a T25 flange, which is useful.

Also setup for external wastegate, so ill have to make up a blocking plate for that:

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/i.php?/upload/2018/09/11/20180911221441-2892ff78-xl.jpg[/img]

Might give it a little clean up with the die grinder, but should be good to go.

Anyway, one of the things i really dislike about the MX5 (and roadsters in general) is the chassis flex from not having any significant triangulation through the chassis. On the MX5 this is evidenced by the door locator rubbers, which get these huge indentations in them from the door flexing about.

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/i.php?/upload/2018/09/02/20180902225313-efbc5137-xl.jpg[/img]

I picked up these machined Delrin ones to replace them

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/i.php?/upload/2018/09/02/20180902225335-cdc2d81d-xl.jpg[/img]

Will it magically change the car and remove all the chassis flex like the Miata-fan-bois say? Doubt it, but at least the doors close with a satisfying ‘thunk’ now.

This arrived fresh from Beavis last night:

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/i.php?/upload/2018/08/18/20180818012720-64c38363-xl.jpg[/img]

Nice little fire extinguisher mount in laser cut stainless. Gave it a little bit of a brushed finish with a stainless brush and then the scotchbrite:

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/i.php?/upload/2018/08/18/20180818012656-73f22894-xl.jpg[/img]

Now happily installed in the car:

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/i.php?/upload/2018/08/18/20180818012635-adfaed51-xl.jpg[/img]

Hopefully it remains a useless piece of bling forever…

Had half an hour today to start pulling down the BP, found some nice exhaust valve lean out on cylinder 2:

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/i.php?/upload/2018/08/11/20180811013940-9bc456dc-xl.jpg[/img]

Pistons look reasonable though, but quite wet.

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/i.php?/upload/2018/08/11/20180811013932-faee0aa4-xl.jpg[/img]

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/i.php?/upload/2018/08/11/20180811013926-3b858988-xl.jpg[/img]

Suspect its been running lean on a couple of cylinders there.

Had a bit more time today to have a better look (and drain the oil out of the engine…)

Got it up on the stand, and started stripping stuff. Looked all fine from above, and the pistons came out easily:

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/_data/i/upload/2018/08/12/20180812002540-9979c094-xl.jpg[/img]

That number 4 piston that looks rather wet above seemed to indicate that it might have been the cause for the blowby when the lower compression ring popped out in two pieces when i pulled it from the engine:

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/_data/i/upload/2018/08/12/20180812002521-e3b6835b-xl.jpg[/img]

But hm, what is that crack i see there on the skirt, i wonder how far that goes:

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/_data/i/upload/2018/08/12/20180812002502-5e50fed7-xl.jpg[/img]

That doesn’t look good, but surely it cant go all the way through, the guy said he had driven 50km home on low boost with just a plume of blue smoke. Time to take the rings off:

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/_data/i/upload/2018/08/12/20180812002429-10e8bafb-xl.jpg[/img]

Nup… thats borked.

Cracked through right on the top compression ring groove, and was being held together by the oil wiper ring.

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/_data/i/upload/2018/08/12/20180812002449-2ed4dfae-xl.jpg[/img]

Surprisingly no scoring or visible marking on the cylinder bore 😮

Will drop it off later at the local engine mob and see whether its out of round.

Took it around the corner to get a wheel alignment on Monday, all dialled in super easy and no weirdness there. Handles like it is on rails now, with excellent turn in.

Then yesterday i went and picked this up:

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/i.php?/upload/2018/08/08/20180808015701-eed1ad38-xl.jpg[/img]

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/i.php?/upload/2018/08/08/20180808015727-ce1f03a7-xl.jpg[/img]

Dirt cheap BP4W. Needs a rebuild, but for the price i couldnt pass it up. Time to start putting together a turbo engine.

Took a break this afternoon and fitted up the last thing before it went for a wheel alignment. A set of Extended Lower Ball Joints arrived the other day, and my old ones had busted boots anyway:

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/i.php?/upload/2018/07/31/20180731234056-bf81f0f2-xl.jpg[/img]

A chunk longer on each side, which gives effectively more front track and therefore more camber. Win.

Also fitted the GV front lip i have had around for a while:

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/i.php?/upload/2018/07/31/20180731233957-e70905bf-xl.jpg[/img]

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/i.php?/upload/2018/07/31/20180731233944-85f2c36e-xl.jpg[/img]

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/i.php?/upload/2018/07/31/20180731234026-e08618bf-xl.jpg[/img]

Definitely need to make a set of ramps for getting the jack under now.

Next up is a wheel alignment to sort out my mad toe in issues.

Had half an hour today, so i quickly made up the console delete carpet:

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/i.php?/upload/2018/07/30/20180730003629-05a88891-xl.jpg[/img]

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/i.php?/upload/2018/07/30/20180730003615-fa2e2b4f-xl.jpg[/img]

Cleans it all up quite nicely, and for about $10 all up.

Also did tidied up the drivers side:

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/i.php?/upload/2018/07/30/20180730003604-02466b00-xl.jpg[/img]

and made the passenger side door handle strap:

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/i.php?/upload/2018/07/30/20180730003600-8e28c538-xl.jpg[/img]

Nice to be able to just tidy a few bits up quickly.

Finished off the last bit of maintenance for the car, which was the stupid shift boot that always cracks on these things. Made up a custom one using a generic 4WD CV boot i had lying around, and some alu plate and pipe

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/i.php?/upload/2018/07/28/20180728021223-33fdcf95-xl.jpg[/img]

Shouldnt crack now. Pity my TIG work might be the thing to crack instead. Have forgotten all of my TIG skills, so need to work on that later on.

Took a few glory shots of it too

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/i.php?/upload/2018/07/28/20180728011513-a5235e2e-xl.jpg[/img]

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/_data/i/upload/2018/07/28/20180728011520-cd694812-xl.jpg[/img]

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/_data/i/upload/2018/07/28/20180728011530-da064f73-xl.jpg[/img]

Just need to cut up a carpet inlay to tidy up the console delete, and its good to go for now.

Next up diff, exhaust, wideband, ECU and then BP.

The RAM arm finally came in from Amazon, so i popped it all together in the car:

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/_data/i/upload/2018/06/12/20180612214012-9aa7a876-xl.jpg[/img]

Basically its made up of three components, the first is a 1″ ball mount attached to an aluminium 90deg bracket and bolted to the centre mounting hole on the dash:

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/_data/i/upload/2018/06/12/20180612213958-5d793f9b-xl.jpg[/img]

The second bit is a long RAM arm:

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/_data/i/upload/2018/06/12/20180612214018-7dd5a4c3-xl.jpg[/img]

And the third bit is an aluminium threaded phone mount that clamps to the phone, with another RAM 1″ ball bolted to it:

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/_data/i/upload/2018/06/12/20180612213950-0413309f-xl.jpg[/img]

It has a pretty good clamp securing it to the phone like so:

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/_data/i/upload/2018/06/12/20180612213944-9fcb9f44-xl.jpg[/img]

Although a ziptie could also be used for further security.

I got the long RAM arm, as i figured the phone being closer would help. This is what it looks like from the drivers seat:

[img]http://images.plebeians.net/i.php?/upload/2018/06/12/20180612213936-aa4c5e53-xl.jpg[/img]

But a shorter or standard length arm would work too, just depends on how long you want. Also RAM do mounts for a ton of other things, so if i end up with the AIM Solo 2 down the track, then there is a mount for that too which only requires buying a new end ball.

The bits i used were:
RAM 1″ ball mount: [url]https://www.amazon.com/Mount-Motorcycle-Handlebar-Clamp-Screws/dp/B005J43I56/[/url]
RAM long arm: [url]https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WJA5ZY/[/url]

In hindsight i probably should have got the M6 threaded version for the phone end, but its not in stock currently. The setup i have uses a sleeve, washer and M6 nyloc nut.

Its quite a versatile setup, and allows the entire arm and mount to be removed, leaving only the dash ball which is quite unobtrusive.

Thanks to Dean for the idea from his NB track car.